Every summer we are blessed by the many delicious and health-boosting superfoods that come into season.

Blackcurrants are the latest fruit to be hailed for their disease-fighting properties, and recent research shows that they could be effective at fighting numerous conditions.

They are commonly used to make jam or to finish off a cheesecake, but blackcurrants could have numerous other health benefits. The super-fruit is thought to help prevent Alzeheimer's disease, fight cancer and combat heart disease. And now The Blackcurrant Foundation, established by British growers to raise awareness of the health benefits of UK blackcurrants, has revealed how this small but mighty fruit can help beat cystitis and other urinary tract infections (UTI).

UTIs, which are much more common in women than in men, are caused by bacteria such as E.coli, and can be treated with a range of medicines. However, as with most illnesses and conditions, prevention is better than cure and recent research has shown how eating blackcurrants or drinking blackcurrant juice can help reduce the frequency, severity and duration of UTIs.

The science
Blackcurrants are high in health-promoting compounds called proanthocyanidins. It is these proanthocyanidins that successfully interfere with the bad bacteria that lead to these nasty UTIs such as cystitis.

Derek Stewart, from the Scottish Crop Research Institute, says: "We know from a range of studies that proanthocyanidins containing fruit like cranberries are great at reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. However, most people don't know that blackcurrants are also packed with these compounds.

"However, blackcurrants also have the advantage in having many other useful chemicals that help fight against infections such as catechins and anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for giving blackcurrants their deep colour."

At least 50% of women suffer a UTI sometime in their life. The urinary tract is the name given to the group of internal organs that collect, store and remove urine from the body. The most common part of the urinary tract to get infected is the bladder - and it is this form of infection that is known as cystitis. The symptoms of cystitis such as a burning sensation when urinating can be extremely uncomfortable.

Drinking blackcurrant juice containing high levels of proanthocyanidins helps flush the body whilst successfully re-hydrating the body. Blackcurrants and blackcurrant juice, when consumed as part of a healthy diet, are an easy, tasty and natural way to help prevent the occurence of infections like this, and to relieve the symptoms of cystitis.